Witchcraft

Myths and Legends

In the modern world, witchcraft and witches are dismissed as fantasies, but in many cultures, magic is alive and its practitioners admired and feared. Join National Geographic on a quest to find the stories behind the myths and legends of witchcraft. Along the way, meet an anthropologist who became a believer in Mexico and a 'witch cleanser' in Zimbabwe. Includes a bonus program: Wicca.

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The main episode on this disc is rather disappointing. Rather then really explore the history and dynamics of witchcraft, it lingers for far too long on shamans and new age wiccans who like to pretend they're Druids reborn.

There are actually two whole episodes on this DVD, the second can be accessed through the special features and it is about the voodoo religion. I enjoyed the voodoo episode more than the one about Witchcraft because it traced the organic development of this religion from it's origins in Africa, how it changed to due slavery and how it presents itself in other parts of the world. It's a lot bloodier than the main Witchcraft feature, but far more coherent otherwise. I wish the episode on Witchcraft would have examined why it was still a viable religion in the western world (and how it managed to survive despite the mass persecutions that occurred over history).